Birthing chair

Abstract

The invention relates to a birthing chair comprising a pedestal ( 10 ) and a seat part ( 16 ) located on the pedestal, said seat part consisting of a seat base ( 22 ), a backrest ( 24 ) and foot supports ( 28 ) that are positioned at the sides of the seat base ( 22 ) and project forwards in relation to the latter. Said chair has a substantially horizontal delivery platform ( 32 ), which is attached to the birthing chair in such a way that it can be displaced between the first position, in which it lies almost completely beneath the seat base ( 22 ), and a second position, in which it lies between the foot supports ( 28 ) in front of the seat base ( 22 ), when viewed from a vertical perspective.

1 . A birthing chair, comprising a pedestal ( 10 ) and arranged thereon a seat part ( 16 ) with a seat base ( 22 ), a backrest ( 24 ), and laterally of the seat base ( 22 ) forwardly positioned foot supports ( 28 ), characterized by an essentially horizontal delivery platform ( 32 ) which is adjustably arranged in the birthing chair for movement between a first position, at which it lies essentially entirely beneath the seat base ( 22 ), and a second position in which it—in a vertical side view—lies between the foot supports ( 28 ) in front of the seat base ( 22 ).  
     
     
         2 . A birthing chair according to  claim 1 , further characterized in that the delivery platform ( 32 ) is divided into at least two platform sections ( 34 ,  36 ) along a separation line running essentially parallel forward edge of the seat base ( 22 ), one of which sections ( 34 ) is connected with the birthing chair while the other section ( 36 ) is so moveably supported on the chair attached platform section ( 34 ) that it is adjustable to a vertical or dropped position relative to the periphery of the chair attached platform section ( 34 ).  
     
     
         3 . A birthing chair according to  claim 2 , further characterized in that the moveable platform section ( 36 ) is pivotally connected to the chair attached platform section ( 34 ) for movement about a pivot axis ( 38 ) running along the separation line and is pivotal between an essentially horizontal position and an essentially vertical position.  
     
     
         4 . A birthing chair according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , further characterized in that the delivery platform ( 32 ) is fastened to a slide ( 40 ), which slide is guided by a carrier arrangement ( 42 ) fixed to the seat part ( 16 ) for sliding movement between a pushed-in position and a pulled-out position.  
     
     
         5 . A birthing chair according to  claim 4 , further characterized in that the slide  40  at least in its pulled-out position is arrestable by means of an arresting mechanism ( 68 ).  
     
     
         6 . A birthing chair according to  claim 5 , further characterized in that the arresting mechanism has a locking member ( 68 ) which is moveably supported on a slide ( 40 ) and is so biased that in the pulled-out position of the slide ( 40 ) it automatically falls into its locking position in which it comes into engagement with the carrier arrangement ( 42 ).  
     
     
         7 . A birthing chair according to claims  3  and  6 , characterized in that the locking member ( 68 ) is deflectable out of its locking position by a displacing element ( 74 ) which is so moveably supported on the slide ( 40 ) that it with an actuating end ( 80 ) extends into the pivotable path of the moveable platform section ( 36 ).  
     
     
         8 . A birthing chair according to one of  claims 2  to  7 , further characterized in that the moveable platform section ( 36 ) is arrestable in its horizontal position by a support bar ( 82 ) which with its forward end is pivotally connected to the underside of the moveable platform section ( 36 ) for movement about a pivot axis parallel to the separation line and with its rearward end ( 90 ) is guided in a support bar guide ( 48 ) on the slide ( 40 ).  
     
     
         9 . A birthing chair according to  claim 8  further characterized in that the support bar ( 82 ) is latchable to the support bar guide ( 48 ) in the horizontal position of the moveable platform section ( 36 ).  
     
     
         10 . A birthing chair according to  claim 8  or  9 , further characterized in that the support bar guide is formed of a hollow profile piece ( 48 ) which extends parallel to the sliding direction of the slide ( 40 ) and receives the rearward end of the support bar ( 82 ), on the rearward end of which hollow profile piece ( 48 ) the locking member ( 68 ) is arranged, and in which a rail forming the displacing element ( 74 ) is supported, which with its rearward end controls the locking member ( 68 ) and at its forward end is engageable with the moveable platform section ( 36 ).  
     
     
         11 . A birthing chair according to  claim 10 , further characterized in that the rail is so couplable with the end of the support bar ( 82 ) received in the hollow profile piece ( 48 ) that the support bar ( 82 ) with a pivoting of the moveable platform section ( 36 ) moves the displacing element ( 74 ) to a freeing position in which the locking member can move to its locking position.  
     
     
         12 . A birthing chair according to one of claims  1 - 11 , further characterized in that the support column ( 10 ) is adjustable in height by means of a drive motor.  
     
     
         13 . A birthing chair according to one of claims  1 - 12  further characterized in that the seat part ( 16 ) at the pedestal ( 10 ) is tipable about a transverse axis ( 18 ) parallel to the forward edge of the seat base ( 22 ).